Pressure-regulator control



Jan. 7, 1930. c. F. GLAsER PRESSURE REGULATOR CONTROL Filed Dec. 12. 1927 IN VEN TOR. (want-.s (iL-Haft.

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y Patented Jan. 7, 1936 CHARLES F. GLASR, OF NDIANAPOLS, INDIANA PRESSURE-REGULATOR CONTROL Application. filed December 12, 1927. Seria] No. 239,663.

This invention relates to acom'pressor and a control mechanism therefor.

i The chief object of this invention is to provide a compressor unit of the water cooled f type with a multiple automatic Control.

y The chief feature of the invention consists in the automatic valve and switch-construction, the parts being arranged to permit of normal valve operationwithoutswitch op- $1"`0 eration and ot switch operation under abnormal condition.

The full nature of the invention will be,

understood from `the accompanying drawings and ther tollowmg description and V Fig. 1 isa side elevation of one-half of a duplex` unit compressor with the compressor portion shown in, elevation and section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central sectional view *E0 of the automatic valve and switch.

In the drawings indicates a suitable base supporting a reservoir or tank 11; The base 4supports a motor 12 having a shaft 113 for driving a compressor ateach end. Suitably mounted upon the motor is a combination valve and switch. vThe motor 12 is controlled by a suitable controller mechanism secured in the starting and` control box 13, the power lines being conveyed to and from the same vby @so the conduits 14 and 15 and the conduit 16 connects to a switch box 17 upon a part of the control valve, and included in said switch box is a remote control switch for the motor con-l troller for: automatically controlling the' motor 12.

The compressor unit, of which one is shown, includes the crank shaft 18 coupled to shaft 113 as at 19 and the pistons 20 infcyle inders 21 compress the gas and the .same

"4c passes through and is cooled and condensed to liquid in the `condenser cooling coils'22 and by way o'fline 23 is dischargedto vthe refrigerant storage tanlrll having a dischargel'ine 111. Mounted in the chamber formed bythe 45 casing 24 and the base 25 is an overflow pipe 26 having an open mouth nearthe top of the casing and a waste line 27 therefrom. `The cooling water or medium is supplied by the line 23 from the control valve to this cham- 5o ber and" it wastes therefrom through thel overllowpipe and waste line 27. `A by-pass 29 is 'connected to the line 23 or tank 11 and also ber 30 includes an annular channel 32 and ducts 33 lead to a parallel channel 34. The same constitutes ythe discharge control. A

`valve member 35 is supported by -member36 and bears upon the annular seat 37 to seal the 65 valve. Y

The member 36 is supported by a stem 38 in turn supported by a` disk or bearing plate 39 engaging a metal diaphragm 40 which forms the lower side of the water chamber and the upper side of the pressure chamber 41 therebeneath.

The other portion of the water chamber is formed by a metal diaphragm 42 which is interposed between the valve supporting`member 36 and a bearing member 43, carried by a stem 44 slidably mounted in an adjustable housing 45. The housing 45 has a threaded connection 47 with the body"48. Interposed between the spring seat 49 and the housing so 45 is a coil spring 46, the tension or force of which is adjusted by screwing the housing relative to the body 48.

A switch construction includes a bracket 5() secured to the body 48 inclosed within the `cover 17, and supports a pivot51 which in turn pivotally supports a trip member 52 connected with the body portion 53 of a switch in the form of av capsule 54 containing a current conducting medium, such as mercury, 55, intoriwhich the electrodes 56 project, said `electrodes being connected to lines 57 and being bridged by the mercury when the switch or capsule is in the tilted position shown in Fig. 2. TWhen reversely tilted the 95 two electrodesare not connected and the circuit through lines 57 is broken. The circuit connected or controlled by lines 57 is the motor circuit and this may be either directly or remotely controlled, and preferably the latter. The lines 57 lead from the housing 17 to the starting and controller box 13 through the conduit 16 (see Fig. l).

In order that the switch may be opened and closed automatically within certain limits; one hundred sixty pounds to correspond with the position of the switch as shown in Fig. 2 and two hundred fifty pounds to correspond with the position of the switch when the reversely tilted, a pair of controlling cams are provided and herein the lower cam indicated by the numeral 58 has a threaded connection with the threaded end of the stem 44 and is retained in adjusted position by the nut 59 or similar means. The other cam 60 is identical therewith but reversely positioned and is maintained in adjusted position by the nut 61 or equilavent means.

When the pressure in the refrigerant pressure chamber 41, and therefore, in line 29 and tank 11 falls below the set pressure for which the upper cam 61 is adjusted the switch will be tilted if it is not already in that position into the position shown in Fig. 2 for closing the circuit through the motor or mot'or controlling mechanism for operating the compressor. When the pressure becomes excessive the same registers in the chamber 41 and the movement of the stem 44 is proportional thereto and as will hereinafter be pointed out the switch is then reversely tilted into the open circuit position, cutting off the compressor by opening the motor circuit. The pressure at which the switch is actuated into either position can be made higher or lower, each independently of the other by means of adjustable controller cams 58 and 60 and without changing pressures at which water valve opens and closes, the latter being controlled entirely by spring 46 and adjustable housing 45.

A brief description of the refrigerating system is necessary to an understanding of this invention. Such a system usually includes a compressor, the cooling and condensing coil for cooling the compressed gas and condensing it into a liquid, a refrigerant storage chamber which provides both for a reserve capacity and for storage for compressed and liquefied refrigerant until used in the refrigerating sections, the refrigerating sections or pipes located in the ice box or chamber to be cooled, the liquid refrigerant being admitted into the refrigerating sections from s storage chamber 11 through line 111 by an automatic valve (usually termed an expansion valve), this valve being actuated by the pressure within the refrigerating sections. it being made to close when pressure rises beyond a predetermined pointand to open when pressure falls to and below that point. In the refrigerating sections, under the low pressure maintained therein, the refrigerant pands, or passes from a liquid to a gaseous state, and in so doing takes on heat, or in other words, cools the ice box or chamber where refrigerating sections are located.

From the refrigerating sections the expanded refrigerant or gas is again passed to the compressor where it is again compressed and on to the cooling and condensing coils 22 where it is again cooled and condensed into liquid, the heat previously taken on in the refrigerating sections being taken out and cai ried away by the water surrounding the condenser coils 22 and supplied to chamber 24 by water valve 30.

If, for any reason, the supply of cooling water to condenser coils 22 were stopped while compressor is in operation, resulting in heat being takenon by the gas in the refrigerating sections without a balancing amount of heat being taken out in the condenser coil 22, the temperature and consequent pressure of the refrigerant in the compressor cylinders 21, condenser coil 22 and storage chamber 11 would soon rise to a point where injury would result.

It is necessary, therefore, to provide a positive cut-olf to secure a cessation of the compressor operation and such cessation is attained by the excessive pressure operating the safety switch shown specifically in Fig. 2, when the dangerous pressure is obtained. In order that the device operate economically it is desirable to cool the condenser coils and take the proper amount of heat away from them. The water cooling system hereinbefore described secures the same.

In the event of failure of the hydrant or pressure supply in times of disaster, such as fire or earthquake, or when the normal water supply is entirely obstructed, the safety switch cuts olf the compressor when the excessive pressure attains. Excessive pressure is attended with a simultaneous rise in temperature. Keeping the temperature down therefore keeps the pressure down to within operating limits, and since it is not desirable nor economical to supply cooling water continuously but only when the compressor is operating a water valve is included and here in the same (illustrated specifically in Fig. 2)

is interposed between the two diaphragms which form a part of the chamber. This valve closes and opens in response to the pressure of spring 46 which can be adjusted and the pressure of the high pressure side of the system exerted on the lower diaphragm 40 in chamber 41, respectively, and this normal intermittent valve actuation generally has no effect upon the switch operation unless the fall of pressure and the rise of pressure is such as to cause the switch to be tilted to the closed or open circuit positions respectively, providing they have been previously oppositely positioned. In other words, the water valve may be and usually is opened and closed many times during the normal operation of the device while the switch may never be actuiff-12,311

ated or changed from the closed circuitpositionshowii in Fig. 2. A thermostatic control for the motoris in series with the safety switch and secures intermittent motor and compressor operation as required.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a multiple control construction the combinationof a chamber, a port leading therefrom, a valve seat in said chamber, a port leading therefrom and separate from said chamber, a valve associated with said seat for controlling communication between said ports, a stem for said valve, a diaphragm forming one wall of said chamber and operatively associated with said stem, means forming a chamber with said diaphragm inculding a port adapted to be connected to a source of pressure for controlling said valve by pressure variations, a spring adapted to seat said valve, a spring retainer adjustably mounted for adjusting the pressure of the spring for valve seating movement, said spring opposing the diaphragm opening movement of the valve, a stem responsive to the valve movement and switch means associated with and operatively connected to said stem and operable in predetermined relation with the valve and the pressure applied to the diaphragm.

2. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by the addition of a second diaphragm interposed between the valve and the spring, and means interposed between said spring and diaphragm for forming a spring bearing.

3. In a unitary pressure responsive controlV device for a liquid cooled compressor, the combination of a bo'dy having a chamber therein and a pair of communicating passages included in the cooling system of the compressor, a valve controlling such communication, a pair of diaphragms associated with the body and forming a closed chamber communication with one of said passage ways, said body including a second chamber responsive to said compressor pressure and including one of said diaphragms as a portion thereof, said valve being operable in one direction by said last mentioned diaphragm, a valve loading spring associated with the other diaphragm, and adjustable means for adjusting the spring pressure thereon.

4. In a unitary pressure responsive control device for an electrically controlled liquid cooled compressor, the combination of a body having a chamber therein and a pair of communicating passages included in the cooling system of the compressor, a valve controlling 4such communication, a pair of diaphragms associated with the body and forming a closed chamber therewith inclosing said valve and in free communication with one of said passages, said body including a second chamber responsive to said compressor pressure and including one of! said diaphragms as a portion thereof, said valve being operable in one direction thereby, a valve loading `spring associated with the other diaphragm, a `switch for the electric control, and a switch actuating member movable by the other diaphragm with" and by the first mentioned diaphragm. i

5.` In a unitary pressure responsive control device for an electrically controlled liquid cooled compressor, the combination of a body having a chamber therein and a pair of communicating passages included in the cooling system of the compressor, a valve controlling such communication, a pair of diaphragms associated with the body and forming a closed chamber therewith inclosing said valve and in free communication with one of said passages, said body including a second chamber responsive to said compressor pressure and including one of said diaphragms as a portion thereof, said valve being operable in one direction thereby, a valve loading spring associated with the other diaphragm, a switch for the electric control, a switch actuating member movable by the other diaphragm with and by the first mentioned diaphragm, and adjustable means for adjusting the spring pressure for simultaneously ad justing the valve and switch operation.

6. In a unitary pressure responsive control device for an electrically controlled liquid cooled compressor, the combination of a body having a chamber therein and a pair of communicating passages included inthe cooling system of the compressor, a valve controlling such communication, a pair of diaphragms associated with the body and forming a closed chamber therewith inclosing said valve and in freecommunication with one of said passages, said body including a second chamber responsive to said comj presser pressure and including one of Vsaid therewith inclosing said valve and in free diaphragms as a portion thereof, said valve being operable in one direction thereby, a valve loading spring associated with the other diaphragm, an over center quick action operable switch for the electric control, a switch actuating member movable by the other diaphragm with and by the first mentioned diaphragm, and a plurality of relatively adjustable means carried by said member for actuating said switch in opposite directions at predetermined times.

7. In a unitary pressure lresponsive control device for an electrically controlled liquid cooled compressor, the combination of a body having a chamber therein and a pair of communicating passages included in the cooling system of the compressor, a valve controlling such communication, a pair of diaphragms associated with the body and forming a closed chamber therewith inclosing said valve and in free communication with one of said passages, said body including ajsecond chamber responsive to said conipressorpressure Iand lnoluding one of said dlaphragms as a portion thereoisaid valve 1 being operable in one direction thereby, a

valve loading spring associated with the other diaphragm, an over center quick act-ion operable switch for the electric control, a switch actuating member movable by the other diaphragm with and by the irst mentioned diaphragm, a plurality of relatively adjustable means carried by said member for actuating said switch in opposite 'directions at predetermined times, and adjustable means for adjusting the spring pressure for simultaneously adjusting the valve and switch operation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto axed my signature.

CHARLES F. GLASER. 

